Printing mechanism for computing machines



Dec. 1941- w. A. ANDERSON 2,267,385

PRINTING MECHANISM FOR COMPUTING MACHINES Filed June 25, 195'? 5 Sheets-Sheet l 505- 6 r 5 TRACT N .ADD & TOTAL (n H-hDl INVENTOR MLTER A. ANDERSON BY Dec. 30, 1941.

Filed June 2 5, 193'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I, NV-

INVENTOR MU'ER A. Alvpmso/v W ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1941. w. A. ANDERSQN PRINTING MECHANISM FOR COMPUTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1957 INVENTOR WALTER A. A/vofRso/v ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1941. w. A. ANDERSON PRINTING MECHANISM FOR COMPUTING MACHINES 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25 m R Y o E T N W m W n [:R a m a L r AY A B h%\ Nwm Dec. 30, 1941. w ANDERSON k 2,267,885

PRINTING MECHANISM FOR COMPUTING MACHINES Filed June 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 \E n t\ f LJ/ 3 7., O h I INVENTOR WALTER A. A/vomso/v ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1941 mans PRINTING MECHANISM FOR COMPUTING momma Walter A. Ania-n,

to Underwood York, N. Y.,

lllb a month. Delaware Conm, assignor Company, New

Application June :5, 1031, Serial No. 150,362

(Cl. zap-so) IZClalms.

This invention relates to-computing machines, and more particularly to the type of machine used for accumulating and totaling patrons purchases in retail stores, although the invention is not limited to machines for performing this particular type of work.

In'handling sales of the above character, it is customary to list, accumulate and total the prices of the various articles bought, and give to the customer a printed record of the sale. Heretofore, machines of the class used for this work have indicated on the record, by appropriate symbol designation and color of printing, that the machine was cleared when the total was taken. However, the prime concern of the customers is that the machine be clear at the outset of the accumulating operation of their respective purchases. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a device for printing, in a distinctive color and with a suitable symbol, the first item of a group of items, whereby the customer may be assured that the machine was cleared of all previous entries be' fore the computing of the instant transaction.

,With this and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in. certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the es sential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawingswhich accompany and form a part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a computing machine of the type in which my signal printing device may be incorporated,

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the keyboard thereof,

Figure3 shows two separate sales records and illustratesjhe type of work accomplished by the machine,

Figure 4 is a right side elevation of the device and the mechanism associated therewith in normal unoperated position,

Figure 5 is a detail view of the total key latch,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with the parts in mid-cycle position during a total taking cycle, certain of the partsbeing removed for clearness of illustration,

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but with parts shown in the position occupied shortly after the middle of a total taking cycle,

Figure 8 is a perspective view with the parts shown in the same relative position as in Figure 6, and v bars 3.

' Figure 9 is a detail side view of the hammer and hammer latch mechanism.

The invention is herein exemplified in connectlon with mechanism of the general character disclosed in the United States Patents No. 1,198,- 487 issued to G. D. Sundstrand, Nos. 1,583,102, 1,925,735, 1,934,747 and 1,965,611 issued to Oscar J. Bundstrand, and No, 2,011,310 issued to Walter A. Anderson, to which reference may be had for an understanding of the features not fully illustrated or described herein. It should, however,

be understood that the present invention is not limited to machines of this character.

Referring to the drawings (Figures 1 and 2), the reference numeral l indicates the machine generally, having the usual platen 2, type bars I, keyboard 4, including amount keys 5 and subtract and total keys 6 and 1 respectively, motor I and motor bar 9.

A main rock shaft [0 (Figure 4) is arranged through suitable connections (not shown) with the drive motor 8 to rock counter-clockwise and then clockwise during each machine cycle. Crank arms H and I2 (Figures 4 and 8) rigidly secured to the shaft l0 are connected through links l3 (one of which is shown in Figure 4) to a pair of levers l4 (only one of which is shown) pivoted on an axis [5 in the rear of the machine. Thus, levers I4 are oscillated clockwise about the axis IS on the initial stroke and counterclockwise on the return stroke of every cycle.

A bichrome ribbon I5 is arranged to be raised and lowered by means including two members ll located on opposite sides of the group of type The members I! are guided for vertical movement by any suitable means, as, for example, guide studs I8 and guide rod l9 fixed in the machine frame, and guide slots 20 in the members l1.

The means for raising and lowering the members ll comprises a pair of actuating levers 2! (Figures 7 and 8) arranged to swing upwardly and downwardly about an axis 22 in timed relation with the forward and return movement of levers H by connections not shown but fully disclosed in the above mentioned Patent No. 1,965,611. Pins 23 carried by the forward ends of the levers 2| plybctween upper and lower yieldable projections 24 and 25 pivoted at 26 and 21 respectively to the members H. A spring 20 yieldingly holds the projections in normal position, the action of the spring being limited by a stop 24a engaging a downwardly extending lug on the upper projection 24.

Forwardly extending lugs 29 scoured to the lower ends of the ribbon carrying members I! are arranged to engage either of two shoulders 35, 36 provided in the'rear edge of a locating frame indicated generally at 30. The locating frame 36 comprises two arms 3| and 32 pivotally mounted at their upper ends upon a transverse rod 33 secured between the side walls of the machine frame. Transverse connecting bars 34 secured between the lower ends of the arms insure uniform parallel movement. The shoulders above referred to are offset vertically in each of the arms 3| and 32; the lower shoulders 35 (when in alignment with the lugs 29) serve to'prevent the members I! from rising to lift the bichrome ribbon I6 beyond the position where it will pre sent a certain field, say, the black field, to the printing mechanism. When the locating frame is swung forwardly so that the upper shoulders 36 are in alignment with the lugs 29, the members I! are free to be lifted by engagement of the pins 23 of the actuating arms 2| with the projections 24 so as to present the other field, as for example, the red field, to the printing devices.

The arm 32 of the locating frame 30 has a downwardly projecting extension 31 carrying at its lower end a pin 38. A pair of identical detent arms 39 are pivoted on a common stud 40 ,and each has two opposing notches adapted to embrace the pin 38. A spring 4! holds the detent arms together to retain the locating frame 36 in either of its two (forward or rearward) positions.

In the normal listing of figures of a group and during the totaling of such figures, the locating frame 36 remains in its rearward position, thus preventing the ribbon from rising and thereby causing the figures and total thereof to be printed in black. When, however, the first item of the next group of figures is to be printed, it is desirable to have the locating frame 36 shifted to its forward position to allow the ribbon I6 to be raised just prior to the printing of said first item whereby it will be printed in red, and the locating frame swung back so that subsequent figures and the total thereof print in black.

The means for controlling the movement of locating frame 36 to effect distinctive color printing is actuated through mechanism that enforces a blank cycle before a total can be taken, and the total key and its appurtenant mechanism, which are shown and described in the patents hereinbefore enumerated.

The blank cycle mechanism enforces the taking of a blank cycle of the machine prior to a total taking cycle to insure restoration of the totalizer carrying devices.

This mechanism comprises a detent plate 42 (Figure 8) guided to move forward and rearward in a horizontal plane, said plate being pivotally connected through a rearward extension as at 43 to a frame 44. The frame 44 is mounted for swinging movement (forward and rearward) upon the rod 33 and is normally urged forward by springs 45 (only one of which is shown in th present drawings).

A plate 46 pivoted in the machine frame at 4'7 is provided with 2. lug 48. A forwardly projecting lug 49 on the detent 42 is continually held in' contact with the lug 46 through the action of springs 45. Whenever any one of the numeral keys is depressed to set up the first digit of an item, the detent plate 42 is pushed back to prevent the upstanding pins 56 carried by the type bars 3 from rising. This result is effected by means of a lever 5| pivoted in the framework of the machine at 52. The lever 5| corresponds to the lever 304 in Patent No. 1,583,102 and its universal connection to the numeral keys 5 may be substantially the same as disclosed in said patent. I

The detent plate 46 is held in its rearward position against the force exerted by the springs by a latch 53 pivoted at 54 and held in contact with the plate 46 through tension of a spring 55.

During the blank or spacing cycle, means for removing the detent plate 42 from above the type bar pins becomes effective. This means comprises a lever 56 pivoted at 51 to the plate 46 and having an extension 58 which lies in the path of a projection 59 fixed to the crank arm l2 of the main rock shaft [6. When the extension 56 is struck by the projection 59, the plate 46 is forced forward and away from the detent plate 42, thus releasing the latter to the action of the springs 45. I

In order that the projection 59 shall not release the detent 42 to the action of the springs 45 during the printing of an item, but shall release the detent plate only during the blank out of the path of movement of the projection 59, under control of the amount keys, by the following parts.

An arm 69 of the lever 56 is arranged to abut a lug 6| formed on a slide 62 through which the upstanding'pins 50 of the type bars 3 are guided. A spring 63 tends to move the lever in the direction to lower the extension 58 out of the path of movement of the projection 59. When the slide 62 is in its initial position, the extension 58 is held up in the path of movement of the projection 59. However,'when a digit is set up by the depression of a numeral key 5, the resulting movement of the slide 62 allows the extension 58 to be lowered by spring 63 out of the path of movement of projection 59, so that plate 46 is not moved forward during that cycle.

the aforementioned Patent No. 1,583,102, thus conditioning the machine for the taking of a total.

The frame 44 carries a stud 64, the outer end of which lies within an elongated opening 65 pro- 'vided in a total control blank 66 pivoted in the machine frame on the axis 61. The total control blank 66 is, therefore, under the control of the blank cycle enforcing mechanism. 7

The purpose and function of the blank 66 and its relation to the totalizer (not shown) is fully shown and described in the previously mentioned Sundstrand Patent No. 1,934,747. Sufiice it to say here, that when the blank is moved forward, as it is during a blank cycle, the totalizer is conditioned for a total taking operation. When the blank is moved back to its rear position, as it is when the first digit of an item is set up on the keyboard, followin a total cycle, the totalizer is conditioned for accumulating operations.

A cam 66 is secured to blank 66 just above its axis 61 and is arranged to force a locating frame restoring arm 69 downwardly when the blank is moved forward during a blank cycle. The arm 69 is pivoted to the locating frame 30 by a stud When slide 62 is returned to its initial position at the 18 carried by the extension 81 of the arm 82. A pin 1I fixed in the arm 88 bears against the lower edge of the cam 88 under the tension of a spring 12 secured at one end to the arm 88 and at its opposite end to a stud 18 on the axis II. An upstanding lug 14 formed on the rear end of the arm 88 lies in the path of a laterally pro- Jecting rod 18 secured to one of the levers I4, when the arm is in its normal or raised position, as it is when the blank 88 is in its rear position.

In such raised position rod 18 strikes ing 14 on the rearward stroke of lever I4, during the second half of the first item entering cycle after a total taking cycle, and thus pulls locating frame 88 back toits rear position. When the arm 88 is 88 on the the control of the total key 1. After the last item of a group is accumulated, the blank cycle is taken and the total key 1 is depressed, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. A pin 18 fixed in the stem 11 of the total key underlies the forward end of a lever 18. A spring 18 secured between the stem 11 and the top of the keyboard normally urges the key 1 upwardly. A spring 88 secured at one end to the forward end of the lever 18 and at its opposite end to the base of the keyboard holds the pin 18 and lever 18 in contact with each other. The lever 18 has an elongated opening II through which a pivot rod 82 extends, the

lever 18 thus being movable longitudinally to a slight extent. A spring 83 urges the lever 18 rearwardly. During the printing of an item and during the blank cycle, the lever 18 is held against movement by the spring 88 by means comprising a cam plate 84, pivoted at 85 and acted upon by a spring 88. On the rear end of the lever 18 is a laterally projecting pin 81 underlying the cam plate 84. The edge 88 of the cam plate 84 carried by the adjacent lever I4.

During the printing of an item and during the' On the detent arm 88 is a pin 84 adapted to engage a hook 88 on the cam plate 84. When the machine is cycled to print a total, the detent arm 88 is prevented from moving under the influence of spring 82 into position where the pin 84 is in front of the hook 85, by means of a pin 88 on the total control blank 88. When the blank is in its forward position (as it is following a spacing stroke) the pin 98 lies under the front end of the detent arm 88 and holds it elevated.

A detent plate 91 pivoted on the center as has a cam slot 88 having a dwell portion 88 in which the stud 88 is arranged to run. That portion of the pin 81 which projects from the inner side of the lever 18 underlies the plate 81. In the lower edge of the plate 81 is a notch I88.

After a blank cycle has been taken,'and the movement of the swinging frame 44 and total control blank 86 to forward position effected, as described in the foregoing, the total pressed, and the machine is cycled. The cam is arranged to be engaged by a stud 88' III key is dethe pin is adjacent plate 84 Is free to swing counter-clockwise under tension of spring 88 as the stud 88 on lever I4 moves forward during the initial stroke of the cycle. The pin 81 on the rear end of lever 18 rises under the influence of the spring 88 until a-locking notch I8I in the cam plate 84. When the movement of the plate 81 under the action of the stud 88 brings the notch I88 into register with the pin 81, the spring 88 'moves the pin into notch I 88, whereupon. spring 88 further rotates plate 84 until notch I 8i embraces and locks stud 81 in notch I88, as shown in Figure 6. This occurs at substantially the middle of the cycle.

As the lever I4 starts back on the return stroke of the cycle (shortly after the total is printed), as shown in Figure 7, the stud 88 acting on the walls of the cam slot 88 swings the plate 81 downwardly, thus pushing the pin 81 and lever 18 forwardly. An inwardly projecting pin I82 fixed in the lever 18 the extension 31 of the locating frame 88 and thus move the locating frame to its forward position wherein the upper shoulders 88 of the locating frame will be aligned with the lugs 28 of the ribbon supporting members I1.

Hence, when the first item of the next group is indexed in the keyboard and the machine cycled, the rising of the actuating levers 2I during th forward stroke of the cycle causes the pins 23 thereof to abut the projections 24 of the members I1 and raise the ribbon I8, as shown in Figures 7 and 8 toprint in red.

To cause the second and subsequent items to be printed in black, the parts operate in the following manner. When the first item is indexed in the keyboard the detent plate 42, swinging frame 44 and total control blank 88 are moved rearwardly simultaneous with the indexing of the first digit of the item, as before described. Hence, the cam 88 moves upwardly as the blank 88 moves rearwardly, and thus permits the loeating frame restoring arm 88 to rise under the tension of the spring 12 so that the lug 14 thereof lies in the path of the rod 18. Thus, at the end of the instant cycle, the rod 15 strikes the lug 14 and restores the locating frame to its normal or home position so that subsequent items of the group, and the total thereof, will be printed in black.

Any suitable latch means may be employed to hold the total key 1 depressed until the total cycle is completed. The means herein shown in Figure 5 comprises a slide I83 having a notch I84 arranged to engage a stud I 85 fixed in the key stem 11. Th slide is mounted for slight longitudinal movement by screws I88 passing through elongated openings I 81 in the slide and secured in the side wall of the keyboard housing. A hook I88 is pivoted at I88 to the slide. The hook I88 is tensioned clockwise by a spring II8 secured between a. projection of the hook and a stud III fixed in the housing, and rests against a stud II2 fixed to a sliding link II3. Thus, the spring II8 tensions slide I83 forwardly. Link H3 is slidably mounted upon screw III at its forward end and is bifurcated at its rearward end to slidably embrace rock shaft I8 adjacent crank arm II. An upstanding lug II4 formed on the extreme rear end of link H3 is arranged to abut against a pin II5 secured in crank arm II. A spring II6 urges link II3 forwardly and holds lug H4 in contact with pin II5.

When the total key 1 is depressed, stud I85 engages notch I84 of slide I83 as it comes forward is arranged to strike against under the tension of spring IIO, latching the key down. As the machin cycles, on the forward stroke, crank arm II swings upwardly, moving pin II away from lug II4, allowing the link II3 to move forward under the tension of spring 6, whereupon stud [I2 of the slide is brought into operative engagement with hook I08. On the back stroke of the instant cycle the crank arm II swings downwardly, bringing the pin H5 against the lug II4, pulling link H3 and slide I03 (by virtue of its engagement with hook I00) rearwardly, and retracting'notch I04 from stud I05, whereupon key 'I rises to normal position under the tension of spring i9.- As slide I03 moves farther rearwardly, a projection II! on hook I08 strikes a stationary lug H0, swinging hook I08 counter-clockwise about its pivot I09, disengaging it from stud II2, whereupon slide I03 restores to its normal position under the infiuence of spring IIO.

Simultaneous with the printing of the first item in'a contrasting color, means is provided to print a signal indicia opposite said first item to further positively assure the patron of a true accounting of his purchases. The symbol used for this purpose is the same as that commonly used on th Sundstrand machine for indicating a total. The signal appears in red opposite the first item and in black opposite the total.

The means for printing the total symbol in the present invention may be generally similar to that fully shown and described in the beforementioned sundstrand Patent No. 1,965,611, andin the present machine is constructed in the following manner.

A stop finger I I9 is pivotally mounted upon the rod 82 (Figure 4). The rear end of this finger xtends upwardly and normally terminates below and just out of the path of a pin I fixed in a hammer latch I2I, A spring I22 normally tensions stop finger I I9 clockwise about its pivot 82 and thus brings the forward end thereof upwardly against a stud I23 carried by the total key stem 'iI. Depression of the total key I rocks finger II 9 counter-clockwise about the pivot 82 and brings the upper end thereof directly under the pin I20, as shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8.

Referring to Figure 9, the hammer latch I2I i pivoted to I2 Ia and is tensioned counter-clockwise by a spring I 2Ib. During the operation of the machine, mechanism disclosed in the abovementioned patents releases latch I2I to the tension of spring I2 lb, which rotates the latch counter-clockwise unless stop finger I I9 is in a position to prevent such rotation. During item listing operations, after the first item, stop finger I I9 is out of the path of pin I20, so that counterclockwise rotation of latch I2l takes place. This placesan edge I25 in the path of pin I26 extending from hammer I24 pivoted at I24a. With the edge I25 in this position, the hammer cannot fire to print the total or clear. symbol.

On the other hand, when the total key is tie pressed for a total taking operation, stop finger II9 supports latch I2I against counter-clockwise movement, thereby holding edg I25 out of the path of pin I26, allowing the hammer to fire in its customary manner.

The means for detaining the latch in its upper position during the printing of the first item of a group is under the control of the locating frame 30. This means comprises a second stop finger l28 pivoted intermediate its ends at I29 to a bracket I30 secured on the machine frame The lower end of the finger has an open-end slot |3I embracing a pin I32 fixed in the arm 31 of the locating frame 30, the upper end thereof being bent over to form 9. lug I33 adapted to engage a notch I34 in the locating frame I2I. When the latch 30 is swung forwardly during the total taking cycle, as before described, the finger I20 swingsclockwise about the pivot I29, bringing lug I33 into engagement with notch I34.

Remembering now that locating frame 30 remains in its-forward position during the remainder of the total taking cycle, and during the subsequent item entering cycle until near the end thereof, it is apparent that stop finger I28 is effective to hold latch I21 ineffective during such first item entering operation. The hammer 124 (Figure 9) is, therefore, permitted to print the totalfor "clear symbol opposite the first item following a total taking operation.

As above explained, cam 68 (Figure 8) is lowered during a blank cyclepreparatory to a total taking operation, and remains in this position during the succeeding total taking cycle. This lowers arm 69 to move lug I4 out of the path of rod I5. This allows locating frame 30 to remain in its forward position at the end of the total taking cycle. It should also be noted that if one or more blank cycles are taken after a total taking operation, cam still remains in its lower position, so that locating frame 30 still remains in its forward position. This permits stop finger I20 to remain engaged with latch I2I during such subsequent blank cycles, and during the greater portion of the next item entering cycle, so that the first item entered after the total taking operation prints the clear" symbol even though one or more blank cycles were taken between the total taking operation and the first item entering operation.

Toward the end of the first item entering cycle, the locating frame 30 is restored, as described previously, swinging the finger I28 counter-clockwise about the pivot I29, and removing lug I33 from notch I34, whereby latch I2I is permitted to drop during subsequent item entering cycles to restrain the firing of hammer I24.

An illustration of the work done by the present machine appears in Figure 3. Therein, I indicates the first item of a group A, the locating frame 30 having been swung forward during the total taking cycle preceding the indexing of this item 2.50, and the stop finger I28 swung into effective position for retaining the hammer latch in inoperative position. Thus, the symbol and figure are printed in red. Upon the completion of this cycle, the locating frame 30 and finger I28 are restored. Hence, the following items I36 print in blank. After the last item 4.75" is printed a blank cycle is taken, during which the platen advances in the customary manner, leaving a blank space on the slip. The total key I is then depressed. This moves the stop finger II9 into position beneath the latch I2I, causing the total signal to print opposite the total 18.00 in black, the locating frame 30 being in its normal or rear position, During the latter part of this total cycle the locating frame 30 is again swung forward preparatory to the printing of the first item I31 of the next group Thus, this item 5.95 together with the symbol is printed in red. During the latter portion of this cycle the locating frame 30 is again restored so that the following items I38 are printed in black. After the last item 1.75" of group B" is printed. a spacing stroke is taken as before.

the total key 1 again depressed to print the total 15.00, together with the symbol in black.

While the form of mechanism 'herein hown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, having a keyboard, a printing-mechanism, total control means, a bichrome ribbon, and an. adjustable carrier for the ribbon, the combination of means for adjusting the carrier, a locating means for arresting the carrier at its adjusted position, said locating means being movable to two positions, means under the control of the total control means for moving the locating means to one position following the printing of a total of a group of items, and means under the control of the keyboard for restoring said locating means to its initial position following the printing of the first item succeeding the total taking operation.

2. In a machine of the class described, having printing means, total control means, a bichrome ribbon, and a carrier for the ribbon, the combination of projections on said carrier, reciprocable actuating means arranged to operate between the projections in every cycle of operation of the machine, a lug on said carrier, a locating means to engage said lug, said locating means being movable to two positions, means controlled by said total control means to move the locating means to one position when, a total of a group of items is taken, and means operated during the first item entering operation following the total taking operation for restoring the locating means to its initial position after the item is printed.

3. In a machine of the class described, having a keyboard, a printing mechanism, total control means, means for enforcing a blank cycle prior to the operation of the total control means, a bichrome ribbon, and a movable carrier for said ribbon, the combination of projections on said'carrier, reciprocable actuating means arranged to operate between said projections in every cycle of the machine, a lug on said carrier, an adjustable locating means, spaced notches in said locating means arranged to stop said lug, restoring means connected to said locating means, means operated by said blank cycle enforcing means for rendering the restoring means ineffective, means controlled by the total control means for adjusting the cating means when a total of a group of items is taken, and means for rendering the restoring means effective when the first item of a new group is entered in the keyboard.

4. In a machine of a class described, having a keyboard, a printing mechanism, total control means, a signal type bar, a hammer and hammer latch therefor, a bichrome ribbon, and a movable carrier for said ribbon, the combination of a locating means for said carrier movable into either of two positions, means controlled by the total control means for moving the locating means into one position following the printing of a total of a group of items, means under the control of the keyboard for restoring the locating means to its initial position following the setting up of the first item succeeding said total, and

means controlled .by said locating means for rendering said hammer latch ineffective while the locating means is in its moved position, whereby a special symbol is printed opposite said first item.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of type bars, a ribbon having more than one color field, a carrier for positioning said ribbon, the carrier acting normally to present a certain field of the ribbon for coaction with said type bars, an adjustable locating means for controlling the movement of the carrier, total controlmeans, means, controlled by the total control means after the total is printed, for adjusting the locating means, means for retaining the locating means in its adjusted position, whereby the carriers may present another field of the ribbon for coaction with the type bars during the printing of the first item succeeding said total, and means for thereafter returningthe locating means to normal position.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of printing means, a bichrome ribbon, adjustable means for positioning the ribbon, a locating means movable to two positions to control adjustment of the adjustable means, total control means having means for moving the locating means, and means, rendered effective by the indexing of an item, to restore said locating means to its initial position following the printing of said item.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of type bars, a bichrome ribbon, means for adjusting said type bars for printing therefrom, adjustable means actuated by said last mentioned means for positioning the ribbon, a locating means to restrain said adjustable means, total control means, means controlled by the total control means for moving the locating means into one position, item entering mechanism, and means controlled thereby for restoring said locating means to its initial position following the printing of the first item succeeding a total taking operation.

8. In 'a machine of the class described, the combination of reciprocable printing type bars, a bichrome ribbon, a member for positioning the ribbon, means to actuate said ribbon positioning member, an adjustable locating means to control the movement of the ribbon positioning member, total control means, means, controlled by the total control means, for adjusting said locating means, a restoring means for the locating means, and blank cycle enforcing mechanism having means for controlling the operation of the restoring means.

9. In a machine of the class described, having a keyboard, total control means, printing mechanism including a signal printing type .bar having a total signal type, a signal type hammer and latch therefor, a bichrome ribbon, and a member for positioning the ribbon, the combination of a part reciprocable in every cycle of the machine, means providing a yieldable connection between said member and said part, a locating means to cooperate with said member to define variable extents of movement thereof, means controlled by the total control means for moving said locating means into one of two positions after a total is printed, means under the control of the keyboard for restoring said locating means to its initial position after the first item following the total has been set up and printed, and means controlled by the locating means to first amountrentering operation following the totaltaking operation, and means for thereafter returning the adjusting means and ribbon to normal position.

""11. In a machine of the class described, amount, entering means, total taking control means, printing mechanism including a bichrome ribbon, means for supporting the ribbon for printing in one color during a total taking'opera- 20 tion, adjusting means for the ribbon, means, controlled by the total taking control means, for

enabling the adjusting means to adjust the ribbon for printing in the other color during the first amount entering operation following the total taking operation, and means, controlled by the amount entering means, for restoring the enabling means to its former position following the printing of said first amount.

12. In a machine of the class described, amount entering mechanism, total control means, means to enforce a blank cycle between an amount entering operation and a total taking operation, printing mechanism including an adjustable bichrome ribbon, adjusting means therefor, means, controlled by the total control means, for enabling the adjusting means to adjust the ribbon during the next succeeding amount entermg operation after a total taking operation, and means, controlled by the blank cycle enforcing mechanism, for restoring the enabling means to its former position following its said adjustment.

WAL'I'ER A. ANDERSON. 

